Frankie Harrer Clinches Historical 31st NSSA Victory

(Huntington Beach, January 17, 2012) — Frankie Harrer set a new NSSA record for single season victories Saturday January 14 collecting her 30th and 31st victories breaking the former mark of 30 wins by Kanoa Igarashi in 2009. In 3-5 foot clean conditions at Huntington Beach Pier, 13-year-old Harrer from Malibu, won both the Womens and Girls finals of the Southwest Conference Explorer event #5 to smash what was thought to be an untouchable record. She was carried from the water on the shoulders of her friends John Mel, Nolan Rapoza and coach Mike Lamm with a huge smile on her face while her mom Simone and her sponsors looked on with pride. “I’m really excited that I broke the record because it was my goal for this year and it really feels good to achieve this,” Harrer said. “It has really helped my surfing doing so many heats.”

Harrer began the path to her historical run back in August 2011 when she kicked off the first event of the 2011-12 season with double victories in the Gold Coast Conference opener at Mandalay Beach in Oxnard. Since then she has consistently raised her game competing at a high level including her recent two consecutive victories in the premier Open Womens division at the Seaside Reef and Salt Creek Opens. Harrer currently leads the 2011-12 ratings in five separate categories including the Southwest Conference Open Womens and Open Girls divisions, the Northwest Conference Open Womens and Open Girls divisions and the Gold Coast Explorer Girls division. Coach Mike Lamm says Harrer has been an “awesome student” this season. “Frankie has been willing to practice hard and learn and stick to heat strategy,” Lamm said. “I have enjoyed her ability to stay focused and perform under pressure situations.”

Megan Villa, Girls Team Manager at Billabong has been on the beach at the last couple events cheering on her youngest star while witnessing history in the making. “We’re so proud of Frankie for accomplishing this goal she set for herself,” Villa said. “It’s huge that she has beat the record with 31 wins and the season is not close to being over yet so I have a feeling she is going to significantly surpass that. We’re so proud of how much she has progressed over the past couple years. I can’t wait to see her surfing at the Nationals and what the future holds for her.”

NSSA Executive Director Janice Aragon has been on the beach each weekend watching the development and progression of her organization’s youngest rising female star. “Not only has it been exciting to witness Frankie’s momentous run to make history, it has also been great to see how much she has improved with the experience,” Aragon said. “She has unquestionably stepped up her game this year through the knowledge and skill she has gained to perform in a variety of surf conditions. And clearly she is not going to stop at 31. There are still multiple events left in the season to build upon her achievement and with the way she is surfing, there will be many more to follow!”